Free and fair elections mean allowing the people to determine the political make-up and future policy direction of the nation. An election should give basic freedom to citizens in order to have full participation in the elector process. People should be allowed to join a political party of their choice without fear of intimidation; they should have access to political and elector information through civic education, they should also have the right to vote secretly without condition or vote buying. The body conducting the election exercise must be impartial, transparent and able to enforce the elector rulers especially the elector Code of Conduct.
All parties and candidates should be treated equally without discrimination as this gives the public trust and confident. The election body should ensure that all contestants or candidates offering themselves for elections should have equal opportunity, especially in use of public resources during the campaigns. Free and fair elections will increase the likelihood of a peaceful transfer of power. They help to ensure that the losing candidates will accept the validity of the election results and cede power to the new government.
Finally it’s the responsibility of every voter to ensure that election is a success. This can only be achieved when the election process is free from intimidation and violence hence, making it transparent, free, fair and credible. We should expect the May 2013 election to be the fairest parliamentary election ever in the history of Pakistan, owing to numerous factors. First, the ECP is strong and autonomous; it is fully capable of holding a fair election under the CEC whose credibility is beyond doubt. Second, the judiciary is independent and determined to make sure that elections are transparent.
Third, the media is free and vigilant. Fourth, the civil society is conscious of its role of bringing positive social and political change in the country. Fifth, the youth of Pakistan is concerned about the outcome of this election because a politically stable and economically prosperous Pakistan will affect their future.
M. OSAMA AFNAN HANAFI,
Karachi, April 22.